Emotions instinctively overpower every individual as he tries to find happiness and grievances by utilising these sentiments. Thus, people in their reactions use various modes to express their feelings. Some opt for painting while many take up arms guns in frustration and very few look for poetry, quotes and one-liners to convey their message.
In this perspective, when we peep through the lifestyle of manual workers around us, who earn honestly through labour. Many of the drivers of trucks, buses, vans or taxis cabs, seemingly remain satisfied with their lives. Though, they are mostly illiterate but they, somehow, manage to decorate their vehicles with poetry and prose – often emotional, sarcastic and hilarious – and also with attractive metaphors.
One of the lesser known sides of the Pakistani life: the chaotic public transport blossoms in colour with buses, trucks, rickshaws and taxis that are decked out in bright paint and elaborate designs, and the best part for many is the poetry or quotes.
Poetry in any form is considered as the most expressive literature but the one that comes with humour and sarcasm adds to the spice. We come across many public transport vehicles that have imprinted some form of poetry, mostly at the back of their vehicles, showcasing that the often ridiculed transporters are not hopeless.
Pakistan Today when asked some drivers while exploring why they use poetry, one-liners, quotes or stickers as the tool of expression, many of them opined that every verse and quote was a reflection of their gut feelings. “This is in a very real sense a public conversation which is not in books, which is not in the type of middle class milieus – it’s on the street, and it is what actually we have experienced in our lives and later on engraved on our vehicles,” they said.
A cabbie at F-8 Markaz when was asked why he had inscribed the verse ‘Kis Qadar Khush Nazar Atay Hein Meray Shahar Kay Log- Aaj Akhbar Kisi Nay Na Parha Ho Jaisay’, (People of my city look happier today, it seems as if they have not read the today’s newspaper), Kashif Satti, the driver, smiled and said the verse was not going to be outdated in the given socio-political settings of the country. “The killing of 28 Pakistani troops in an attack by NATO forces in Mohmand Agency has shattered me. It was an act of barbarism and an attack to our sovereignty that can not be pardoned at any cost. But to be honest, such strikes occurred in the past and will continue in future, as we are not at all an independent state in real essence,” the emotionally charged driver said. Every now and then one does comes across a very standard poetry sample, which makes one think in admiration of poetic sense of its creator as well as the transport owner. Look at another verse written on a vehicle spotted in Rawalpindi: ‘Jahan Sach Na Milay, Wahan Jhoot Hi Sahi- Jahan Haq Na Milay, Wahan Loot Hi Sahi’ (When you are not to be succeeded honestly, you may use the crooked ways).
“This is not a manifestation of just a driver of a cab, like me – but the reason this verse is here that it reflects the vivid picture how much this society has indulged in corruption, nepotism, and biased to say the least as it seems that an honest man has no place in this country,” said Zahoor Ahmed, the taxi driver.
Of course, the drivers are not writing these verses in a vacuum. These poetic verses and quotes play a very prominent role in popular culture – not just as a form of art, but also as a part of everyday conversation. Religion is the fundamental element influencing our lives and many of the drivers choose verses for preaching and giving suggestions to the readers. ‘Sari Musibaton Ka Aik Hi Hal- Bistar Utha, Tableegh Ko Chal’ (The only soul smoothing solution of all troubles is – to go for preaching) is one of these verses written on a van.
“I have been driving a truck for the last 15 years and participating in annual ‘Tableeghi Ijtima’ at Raiwind regularly. I feel relaxed there as it appeases my inner self a lot and that’s why I have written this verse,” said Hamza Khan, a bearded person.
Other than this, the drivers of vehicles use poetry for relating their personal accounts of romanticism and livelihood. ‘Musafir Hoon Manzil Ko Ja Raha Hoon – Pait Ki Khatir Taxi Chala Raha Hoon’ (I am a traveller heading towards my destiny and riding this cab for livelihood).
‘Chalta Hoon Har Subha mein Tumhari Talash Mien – Har Shaam Laot Ata Hoon Isi Bebasi Ky Saath’ and ‘Dil to Dye Chukay Hein Ab Naseeb Azma Rahay Hein – Kisi Sangdil Ki Khatir, Taxi Chala Rahay Hein’ are few of the verses that has preserved the natural innocence and spontaneity of the “transport poetry”. Many of the verses are not hum-wazan while others have problem with ‘tazkeer-o-taanees’ (gender) – feminine words sometimes are referred to as masculine and vice versa – but this “lawlessness” in poetry is what makes it so colourful and enjoyable. These hard-pressed mostly illiterate drivers use couplets, quotations or one-liners to explain a situation, something like the way proverbs are used but for the owners of public transport vehicles; it is also about defining their public identity.
They exhibit their love and adoration to literature by getting written poetry and quotes from legendary writers on their vehicles. Some also reflect their patriotism to the homeland as well as the armed forces, by getting painted portraits of former army heroes and martyrs on their vehicles. Some of them also show their political, religious and family members affiliation in writing verses and quotations.
In modern days, the one-liners like ‘Koi Dekhay na Dekhay, Shabbir tu Dekhay Ga’, ‘Qadam barhao Imran Khan – hum tumharay sath hain’ (March forward Imran Khan, we are with you) ‘ye sab meri maa ki dua hay’, ‘Tusi chalay jaso, ya may chadd awan’, and ‘Miss-bell tay maar’ (Give me a miss-bell) are few of new quotes witnessed on the rear of vehicles. Pakistan Today dedicates this piece of writing to all drivers, cleaners, mechanics and transporters of Pakistan who despite all hardships are keeping the wheel of economy moving from Karachi to Landi Kotal or plying their vehicles in the twin cities expressing their thoughts to others.
‘Vehicular literature’ an expression of popularism
